January 2023 – Gold Country News and Notes

SMUD Partners with Red Cross in Support of Sickle Cell Initiative

By Peg Taylor, Volunteer

The American Red Cross and SMUD have joined together to support the American Red Cross Sickle Cell Initiative and address the critical need for blood specific to the needs of those with sickle cell disease.

Sickle cell disease affects about 100,000 people nationwide with more than 400 patients residing in the Sacramento area. People with sickle cell disease live with extreme pain, anemia, tissue and organ damage and stroke.

READ: Local boy, 10, struggles with sickle cell disease; Family encourages blood donations to help

There is no cure for sickle cell disease but treatment through frequent blood transfusions can help prevent or reduce these symptoms. It has been found that blood donations from African-American donors can decrease complications related to transfusion therapy needed by sickle cell patients who receive lifelong transfusions.

Patients need as many as 10 units of blood every month. This need, along with a shortage of donors, has resulted in a dire need for African-American blood donations.

The American Red Cross is well placed to help meet this need, as the organization manages about 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply. The American Red Cross Sickle Cell Initiative was born out of the need to increase the amount of blood products available for people with sickle cell disease by increasing the number of currently underrepresented African American donors nationwide.

The Sickle Cell Initiative has a nationwide goal to triple the number of African-American blood donors by the end of December 2024.

READ: The blood donation process

“My experience with donating blood (to the Red Cross) was easy from start to finish. From the time I called over the phone, to the time I was sitting in the chair donating, the experience felt welcoming and safe. Everything was explained to me about the collection process. The staff were patient and accommodating,” said Anya-Jael Woods, with SMUD’s Sustainable Community Partnerships.

“The education I was provided about sickle cell disease and how blood donations help the community living with the disease made the process that much more impactful for me. It was a blessing to be a part of this drive and I look forward to participating again.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP: Volunteers needed to help with blood donations

To schedule your appointment or for more information visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

The Red Cross is now screening self-identified African-American donors for the sickle cell trait to help patients in need. Click here for more information on the American Red Cross Sickle Cell Initiative or to schedule a blood donation.

We thank SMUD for their partnership in bringing awareness to sickle cell disease.

Meet Board Chair Roxanne Gould

By Peg Taylor, Volunteer

Throughout 2023, we are introducing you to the board of directors for our Sierra-Delta and Northern California chapters.

We begin with current Chair of the Sierra-Delta board, Roxanne Gould, who first came in contact with the Red Cross as a child when her family survived a home fire.

Roxanne, who is president of her firm Gould Government Relations, has been a member of American Red Cross Gold Country Region Board of Directors since 2016 and was appointed Board Chair in 2022.

When she was five years old, Roxanne lived through an apartment fire that she says was only survivable because of the quick thinking of her brother who saved both Roxanne and her mother.

She remembers sitting in a car watching their home burn to the ground and recalls Red Cross volunteers placing a blanket around her shoulders and giving her mom money for food, motel and other necessities.

Roxanne considers the Red Cross volunteers who helped her family that night as her heroes.

Roxanne has been driven to support the work of the California Gold Country Region through her work on the Board of Directors, and by volunteering her time with Sound the Alarm, the Pillowcase Project, various telethons and blood drives. She is also a member of the Red Cross Tiffany Circle, a community of women leaders who carry on Red Cross founder Clara Barton’s legacy by advancing the Red Cross mission through a focused investment of time, talent and treasure.

“I am always moved by the generosity of our donors in times of trouble. Donors know and understand the work of the Red Cross. I certainly do and will continue to give back for the rest of my life,” she says.

We thank Roxanne for her continued work on behalf of the Red Cross.

Embassy Suites Employees Honored by Red Cross After Saving Colleague’s Life

The importance of learning CPR is front and center in the news right now after Buffalo Bills star Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest during a recent NFL game.

The American Red Cross not only teaches CPR and other lifesaving skills but regularly recognizes people who save lives after taking such training.

This is one of our favorite stories out of the California Gold Country Region: two hotel employees who helped save the life of a coworker. And they were taught CPR by a manager who was also trained by the Red Cross!

Visit redcross.org/take-a-class today.

Gold Country News and Notes

Embassy Suites Sacramento Riverfront employees David Thrailkill and Amit Raj, along with their colleague and Red Cross CPR instructor Darryl Smalley (from left to right) were recognized with the Red Cross Lifesaving Award in January.

CPR and first aid classes are something that so many of us are mandated to do in our respective fields. It can become something that we dread if we already feel proficient and have been re-certified countless times. There are times, however, that this class proves most useful and ultimately saves a life.

For years, Darryl Smalley, the security manager of Embassy Suites Sacramento Riverfront, has been certifying his employees in CPR and first aid. By providing this service to them, Darryl was able to equip two employees with the skills and knowledge that they needed to save a friend and coworker.

On Thursday, June 6, 2019, at about 8 a.m., David Thrailkill, the guest…

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Red Cross Continues to Respond as Bomb Cyclone Impacts California

This information was last updated on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 8:00 a.m. Please check back regularly for updates.

Flooding, along with the potential for power outages and landslides, will impact the state through this weekend into next week. The American Red Cross has mobilized resources and is collaborating with government and community partners to respond to this storm. Nearly 400 Red Cross workers from across the country, along with shelters and supplies, have been activated to accommodate residents evacuated from their homes.

This online story map offers a look at the ongoing response to California floods; this map is updated as more information and stories from the ground are available.

Statewide Red Cross, County and Partner Shelter Information by County:

Everyone is welcome at a Red Cross shelter. All Red Cross disaster assistance is free. Current list denotes open shelters managed and/or supported by the Red Cross, county or community partners.

Amador County
- Evelynn-Bishop Hall (located in Charles Howard Park)
  - 701 CA-124, Ione, CA 95640. MAP
Santa Clara County
- Seven Trees Community Center
  - 3590 Cas Drive, San Jose, CA 95111. MAP
- Camden Community Center
  - 3369 Union Avenue, San Jose, CA 95124. MAP
- San Martin Lions Club
  - 12415 Murphy Avenue, San Martin, CA 95046. MAP
San Mateo County
- San Mateo County Event Center
  - 1346 Saratoga Drive, San Mateo, CA 94403. MAP
Santa Cruz County
- Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds – JJ Crosetti Building, Fine Arts and Harvest Hall
  - 2601 E. Lake Avenue, Watsonville, CA 95076. MAP
- Cabrillo College – Cafeteria
  - 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003. MAP
Merced County
- Merced County Fairgrounds – Yosemite Hall, Half Dome Hall, Pavilion Hall
  - 900 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Merced, CA 95341.MAP
- Merced County Spring Fair
  - 403 F Street, Los Banos, CA 93635. MAP
- Atwater City Community Center
  - 760 E. Bellevue Road, Atwater, CA 95301. MAP
Monterey County
- Prunedale Grange Hall
  - 17890 Moro Road, Salinas, CA 93907. MAP
- Monterey County Fairgrounds-Monterey Hall
  - 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey, CA 93940. MAP
- King City High School
  - 720 Broadway Street, King City, CA 93930. MAP
- Sherwood Hall
  - 940 North Main Street, Salinas, CA 93906. MAP
Sacramento County
- California State Fairgrounds-Cal Expo
  - 1600 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95815. MAP
Stanislaus County
- Yolo Middle School
  - 901 Hoyer, Newman, CA 95360. MAP
Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Tulare and Ventura Counties

Click here for an updated list of all shelters.

Safety Information and How You Can Help

Pack your emergency kit, know your routes and destinations, and listen to the advice of emergency officials. Download the free Red Cross Emergency app for real-time weather alerts, open Red Cross shelter locations and expert advice on storms and flooding. Search “American Red Cross” wherever you download apps or go to redcross.org/apps.

Flooding Safety

Stay off the roads and away from floodwaters. If you must drive, avoid flooded roadways. If power lines are down, call 9-1-1 and don’t approach or step in any puddles or standing water near the downed lines.
Follow evacuation orders and don’t return home until officials say it is safe to do so.
Use caution when cleaning up your home and wear protective clothing, including rubber gloves and boots. Throw out items that absorb water and can’t be disinfected, and dispose of all food, drinks and medications that have either spoiled or been damaged.
For more information, visit redcross.org/flood.

Landslide Safety

Stay informed about the risk of landslides in your area. Most landslides are caused by events like heavy rain, snowmelt, earthquakes or wildfires.
If you suspect you are in danger, evacuate immediately. Take your pets with you, inform your neighbors and contact emergency officials.
Listen for unusual sounds like trees cracking or boulders knocking together that could indicate moving debris.
For more information, visit redcross.org/landslide.

Blood During Disasters

The Red Cross is working to maintain a stable blood supply amid the threat of storms and winter weather across the country, as severe weather often causes widespread blood drive cancellations. Where it is safe to do so, we encourage donors to make and keep blood donation appointments by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Help Those in Need

You can help people affected by disasters like storms and countless other crises by making a gift to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767), or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Sign Up to Volunteer

While volunteering needs are in flux as the current weather event passes through our region, we are likely going to need more volunteers to support our response in the coming days. Be on the lookout for more information on ways you can help as needs evolve!

Stay Up-to-Date on Social Media

Updated information on the Red Cross response to this storm, and preparedness information is continually updated on regional social media channels. Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @ARCGoldCountry. We’re on LinkedIn here.